What caused the explosion of the fuel tanker truck in Moatize, Mozambique? – Conflicting reports

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What caused the explosion of the fuel tanker truck in Moatize, Mozambique? – Conflicting reports

1:35 CAT | 18 Nov 2016

According to Deutsche Welle, at least 44 people have been killed and 120 wounded, 45 in critical condition, including 15 children is the provisional assessment of the costs of an fuel truck explosion in the town of Caphizanje, Moatize district, Tete province.

However, Radio Mozambique yesterday, citing provincial government sources had reported 73 deaths and in its latest report, citing hospital sources, the pubic broadcaster said there are 56 people confirmed dead, along with 97 injured, 36 seriously

“There are two pregnant ladies with third-degree burns. This worries us a lot,” said Jose Mendonça, a spokesman for the Tete provincial government, cited by DW.

The truck was carrying petrol to Malawi from the port city of Beira, the Mozambican government said in a statement, and was passing through the town of Caphiridzange near the Malawian border in Tete province when it overturned on Wednesday, November 16.

“The incident occurred when citizens tried to take petrol from the truck,” the government said in a statement quoted by the Independent. “The truck burst into flames because of the heat.”

According to the DW Africa correspondent in Tete, Amos Zacharias, however, the explosion took place when a crowd of people went to the accident scene yesterday, November 17, in an attempt to steal fuel. A police officer on guard allegedly fired shots to try to disperse the mob.

A police source acknowledged that an officer had been posted to guard the accident site.

According to a ‘ Voa Portugues’ report, one of the residents said that the shots the policeman fired to try to disperse the crowd caused the explosion, while another resident said the fire was caused by a short circuit in a motor pump used to remove the fuel.

The emergency rooms at Tete provincial hospital are receiving the most seriously injured, many with third-degree burns from the blast.

Source: DW/ Voa/RT/ Lusa